HIPPOPOTAMUS
			Phylum: Class: Order: Family: Species: Chordata Mammalia Artiodactyla Hippopotamidae Hippopotamus amphibius

The hippopotamus rivals the rhinoceros as the second largest living land animal. Reaching approximately 14 feet long (430 cm), and standing up to 5 feet at the shoulder (150 cm), it weighs about 4 tons. It once lived throughout Africa, but is now extinct north of Khartoum, in the Sudan, and south of the Zambezi River, except in protected areas. The smaller pygmy hippopotamus is a separate species, and only reaches about 5 feet long (150 cm). It lives singly or in pairs in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and southern Nigeria.

The word "hippopotamus" means "river horse" and the animal spends most of the day lazing in rivers or lakes, or basking on sandbars. At night, It comes on land to feed, mainly on grass. When frightened, they can run with surprising speed on its short, thick legs.

These amazing animals can stay under water for as long as five minutes. Its eyes are raised on top of its large flat head. It has small ears and its slitlike nostrils are high up on the muzzle. The animal can bask below the surface of the water with its nostrils just breaking through into the air. The barrel-shaped body is hairless, except for some bristles on the muzzle, in the ears, and at the tip of the short tail. The enormous mouth contains large canine tusks which may be over 5 feet long (1.5 m).

The hippopotamus lives in groups of between 20 and 100. The female selects her mate. After mating, the baby is born about eight months later. During the mating season, the males are aggressive. Fights are vigorous and large gashes are inflicted with their tusks.